Extra special Christmas trees

11 December 2015
Media release

Extra special Christmas trees

This Christmas ChildFund New Zealand is asking Kiwis to give the gift of trees to families in need in Zambia.

“While the pine and pohutukawa take centre-stage in New Zealand this time of year, avocado and moringa trees are top of the Christmas list in Zambia,” says ChildFund New Zealand CEO Paul Brown.

“These trees are drought resistant, fast growing and bring the promise of nutritious food for generations to come. They will help children and their families grow healthy and more promising futures for themselves, free from malnutrition and the cycle of poverty.”

Priced at just $18, ChildFund’s Gifts that Grow ‘Special Christmas trees’ gift includes an avocado tree for bounties of energy-dense fruit, and a moringa tree, a superfood plant also known as the ‘miracle tree’.

In addition to the nutrient-rich fruit of the avocado, almost every part of the miraculous moringa tree is edible. The leaves, seeds, flowers and even stems can be consumed in a number of tasty ways and every piece is packed full of high-quality vitamins, amino-acids, anti-oxidants and protein.

“The leaves and flowers can be eaten as salads, the stems cooked like vegetables, or the seeds roasted and eaten like peanuts or used as a spice. Dried leaves and seeds are also used to make a long-lasting powder, which is sprinkled on otherwise nutrient-poor foods to ensure children are getting what their growing bodies need year-round.”

Moringa and avocado trees are already growing well in a ChildFund community in nearby Kenya. The charity is hoping to gift 1700 trees to start a similar initiative in Zambia to benefit children and their families for generations to come.

How Gifts that Grow works

Purchasing a Gifts that Grow is a great way to add real meaning to Christmas shopping, whether it’s ‘just because’ or as a gift for that hard-to-buy-for loved one.

“Our commitment to gift-givers is that the items they choose will help children, families and communities grow in health, education and independence. The gifts on offer are focused on building sustainable futures and are what communities themselves have identified as needing most.”

Buyers can rest assured the gift bought is delivered directly to children and their families in the nominated ChildFund project. In the case more money is raised than needed for the chosen gift, the donation will be used for a similar gift that is still needed.

To order, visit www.childfund.org.nz or call 0800 223 111. Purchasers receive a special gift card explaining the gift and how it will benefit the recipient, and also get a ‘gift back’ via a full tax credit.

Order by 15 December to ensure card delivery in time for Christmas or select e-card for an electronic version that can be delivered any time after it is ordered.

Ends

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